Category Archives: Personal

From GoPros attached to quadcopters to gimmicky iPhone lens clips, Rafferty Baker and I are always talking about what gear we need to get a great shot.

About a month ago we went out and bought some cheap skateboard wheels and ball-bearings. The plan was to build track dollies for those sweet “unchained” shots.

For the longest time, I was unsure how to tackle the design of the dolly until I saw two old fridge door handles at work. I decided to shelf the track dolly plan for a relatively smaller rail-glider. The two handles were screwed together to create a seamless five foot rail.

After consulting various DIY walkthroughs and hours in Home Depot, I spent most of the day constructing this rail-glider chassis.

It says that it’s day 25 on the revolutionary calendar but days are no longer measured in hours. Everything has merged into an everlasting block of memory. I cannot tell you what happened yesterday because, in order to do so, I’d have to start from the beginning.

The truth is that I’m embedded with the Occupy Vancouver movement and I’ve been anchored on the frontline.

I’ve learned more about this organized occupation than all the regular everyday-folks with their reactionary opinions rife with misinformation. After 25 days of hearing propagated half-truths, I’ve done my best to inform the public and correct the spreading of sloppy journalism. I’ve even had to correct a news station during an interview on air.

But, live reporting is not why I’m down there. Rafferty Baker and I are knee-deep in the filming of our documentary The Occupation. Essentially, it follows the rise of Vancouver’s interpretation of the #OccupyWallStreet movement.

The documentary follows the relationships and interactions of the occupiers within the encampment as they deal with the city, weather and unexpected tragedies. The Occupation is an intimate look at one of the most talked about events of the year. The documentary will humanize the movement like no one has shown before.

Lately, the encampment has been on edge because the increasing threats from the city have been getting louder and louder.

Now, there’s information spreading that says city workers and VPD officers will roll in to dismantle the tent-city tomorrow (November 10). With so much information being passed around, it’s no wonder that the occupiers are on edge and at times involved in militant rhetoric.

A small group of us were involved in making the weekly student lead television news program BCIT Magazine. The experience was intense and I ended up doing some things I thought I’d never do.

Anchoring was the main event. I didn’t want to have anything to do with the deed but I got my fair share of face time during the past three weeks.

For those of you who don’t know me very well, let me take a minute to tell you a little bit about myself:

I sweat a lot. I am like a blowfish, in the sense that I have a unique self-defense mechanism. Instead of spines pushing out from my skin, I have copious amounts of sweat streaming from my face. It’s an uncomfortable affliction that keeps things awkward most of the time.

My hyperhydrosis is not ideal for doing things that require performing in front of an audience. I have never liked presentations nor the pressure of being calm and serious on camera. Anchoring has never interested me but somehow I ended up anchoring two casts and also delivering a brief weather stand up.

Yes, there were screw-ups. But, keep in mind, this is not my thing. I only wanted a little fun.

Nearly a month ago my friend Michaela Ross asked if I would be interested in filming and editing a short promotional video. I was given a brief rundown on the purpose of the video but I never really knew what to expect. I was told to film and that’s what I did.

The United States is still picking up the pieces after the attack on the World Trade Centre ten years ago.

Citizens of Seattle still remember the tragic events of 9/11, even ten years after. Many people walking around the city would run into visual reminders of the historic day. Flags were at half-mast and small memorials littered city parks spent the Sunday immersed in various activities.

In the shadow of the Space Needle, a group of 9/11 Truthers handing out pamphlets and encouraging passersby to question the government.

Across the park, there was another group of people assembled to promote peace and harmony at Memorial Field. The ONE Festival had guest speakers recalling the fateful day ten years ago. Local artists also preformed for the small crowd gathered at the Seattle stadium.

A final memorial at Alki Beach in West Seattle attracted a larger crowd for a candle light vigil. People gathered to sing songs and look on at the tribute to day of remembrance.